'Earthquake', one of the biggest realities of Turkey, is on our agenda again on the anniversary of the February 6 Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes. It is obvious what a price we, as Turkey, have paid in the face of earthquakes that have caused hundreds of thousands of our people to die under rubble, cities to be destroyed and many indescribable pain throughout the history of the Republic.
CHAPTER 3
What happened after February 6?
NEGLIGENCE CAUSED MANY LIVES THAN THE EARTHQUAKE!
In the last part of our article series, we will evaluate the aftermath of the February 6 Earthquakes, in which 53 thousand 537 of our citizens died, 107 thousand people were injured, and 10 of our cities, especially Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, Malatya, Gaziantep, were largely destroyed.
After the earthquakes, from which we experienced countless pains, what was happening in the disaster area began to become clearer. Experts' evaluations, investigations in the earthquake area, damage assessment reports and official statements showed that the main cause of destruction and loss of life was negligence rather than earthquakes.
In addition, interesting events that took place during the humanitarian aid process after the earthquake were brought to the agenda with unforgettable issues regarding the February 6 Earthquakes.
Time continued to pass after the February 6 Earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, but Turkey would never be the same.
Turkey, which buried 53 thousand 537 citizens due to negligence rather than the devastating effects of the earthquake, continued to be shaken by the facts that emerged after February 6.
Contractors who did not comply with earthquake regulations, criminals who cut columns to make room in their shops, municipalities that did not carry out the necessary inspections, officials who gave construction permits on soft ground, and government officials who announced the zoning amnesty as good news, worked hand in hand to worsen the toll of the February 6 Earthquakes.
Experts' evaluations, investigations in the earthquake area, damage assessment reports and official statements pointed out that the real culprit was negligence, not the earthquake.
On the other hand, in addition to the negligence towards the earthquake, the humanitarian aid aspect of the work was also brought to the agenda with interesting aspects after the Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes. In the last part of our article series, we will evaluate the various aspects of what happened after the February 6 earthquakes.
DAMAGE INSPECTION REPORT OF FEBRUARY 6 EARTHQUAKES
On March 6, 2023, after the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, a damage assessment report was published by the Presidency. According to the report prepared as a result of the investigations carried out in 11 provinces, there were 2 million 618 thousand 697 buildings affected by the earthquake.
35 thousand 355 of these buildings were completely destroyed and became graves for tens of thousands of our citizens. In the report, which stated that 17 thousand 491 buildings needed to be demolished urgently, it was determined that 179 thousand 786 buildings were seriously damaged. However, there were also buildings in the earthquake zone that were recorded as slightly damaged or undamaged. Millions of buildings were standing, complying with earthquake regulations and considering human life rather than profit.
If inspections had been carried out strictly and everything had been done according to the book, there would never have been 35 thousand 355 buildings that were completely destroyed and 179 thousand 786 buildings that were seriously damaged. Buildings standing solid next to a building turned into rubble is one of the facts we all remember during the earthquake.
NOT ONLY BUILDINGS, BUT ALSO CITIES ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR EARTHQUAKES!
As well as the buildings destroyed in the earthquake, the cities that were completely destroyed in every aspect during the earthquake stand before us as another reality.
In our cities, which are flawed in many aspects, from transportation and communication infrastructure to assembly areas, from insufficient assembly areas to collapsed government buildings, even the ground survey of the settlements was not fully carried out.
Aside from the state hospitals, schools, mosques and roads destroyed in the earthquake, the collapse of communication and transportation infrastructures also reveals the extent of neglect. The situation of our 11 cities, which were unprepared for the earthquake, after the February 6 Earthquakes actually revealed how cheap human life is in Turkey.
So much so that, according to an academic study, existing parks and green areas were insufficient during the February 6, 2023 earthquakes, and the gathering areas that were predicted to be sufficient in the city plan were almost never used...
EVEN 10 DAYS AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE, THE INJURED UNDER THE RUBBLE COULD NOT BE FOUND!
The February 6 Earthquakes made it clear how unprepared Turkey was in a vital emergency such as an earthquake.
While 'emergency intervention' was of vital importance after the earthquake, according to the statements made by the earthquake victims, AFAD and the Red Crescent reached some cities days later.
The biggest example of these is the dozens of people pulled out from under the rubble after the 240th hour. The fact that the injured under the rubble could not be reached even 10 days after the earthquake, in an environment where emergency response was insufficient, reveals how problematic Turkey is at this point.
In response to these criticisms, it is suggested that the intensity and impact of the earthquake were great. However, an 'emergency action plan' must be prepared for every city in our country that is in the earthquake zone.
If there is an 'emergency action plan' for every city, why this plan could not be fully implemented in 11 of our cities on February 6 is another question that occupies our minds.
EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS AID POLEMICS AND RED CRESCENT
After the February 6 Earthquakes, all of Turkey mobilized with all its resources to help the disaster area. However, there was a lack of coordination in the aid provided to earthquake victims.
The mobilization of state aid organizations, NGOs, aid from abroad and the public towards the earthquake zone was only brought under control days later.
In fact, while there were millions of citizens waiting for help in the earthquake zone, various allegations about NGOs emerged and Turkey got quite heated.
AHBAP Association, which was at the center of all the allegations, announced that it had purchased a tent from the Red Crescent with the aid they collected, and the issue suddenly gained a very different dimension.
Red Crescent, a state aid organization, sold tents to an NGO while millions of earthquake victims were struggling with the cold.
Even this fact, revealed by documents, shows how open to debate Turkey is even regarding 'emergency humanitarian aid'.